We've just come back from a very relaxing week at the Cantemerle. It is a truly lovely hotel in a pleasant setting, on the outskirts of Vence and with oblique views of the Mediterranean. The rooms, set in series of terraces, all have outside space and are tastefully furnished. The bathrooms, in particular, are excellent.

The reason I can't give the hotel an unequivocal endorsement is because of three experiences that rather soured the experience. Dinner could have been a lot better for the price we paid, even if this was southern France. Towards the end of the stay, we had the unpleasant experience of being dressed down by the owner ("this is not a campsite") when I returned to the hotel with a packed lunch for my wife (whose mobility was limited by a recent back injury), despite the absence of lunch service at the hotel. Finally, when we came to settle the bill, we noticed the unwelcome insertion of a 30 euro charge for cleaning a rug in our room, which the owner claimed had been soiled by baby food.

I couldn't help noticing that the hotel was, at best, 15% full. The refusal to discount substantially off-season probably didn't help. But if other guests felt the wrath of an uncivil manager, as we did, I doubt they would rush to return, or recommend to friends, especially those with kids. Given the sweet nature of the rest of the hotel staff, his gaucheness is a real let-down.